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Sarah Hamilton, artist, designer and founder of the Just a Card campaign chooses her 5 Favourites

We've followed and supported the Just A Card campaign for some time. Asking artist and designer, Sarah Hamilton, who founded the initiative, to choose her 5 favourites seemed a natural choice. We salute her for a maverick spirit and her team of volunteers who champion so many small, independent businesses. Sarah, you are officially a Craft Warrior-Thank you! 
Here are Sarah's choices and you can meet all these makers at Cheltenham Town Hall in March.

KATE HOLLOWOOD

For some it’s just shoes, for others it’s just bags - for me it’s just beautifully designed lighting. Kate’s range of shapes and striking colours make my heart sing. Good images leave you wanting more, and in this case that’s exactly how I feel.  I’d love to see how the light filters through Kate’s effortlessly graceful yet strong statement pieces. I’d like to experience the material she so inventively developed to integrated with her colours, and see how they relate to each other. Kate’s lights are imaginative, unusual, contemporary and simple yet complex  - a winning combination in my book!

QUERCUS SILVER

Quercus Silver Jewellery ticks all the boxes for me. The earnings, necklaces, rings etc are irresistible!  I adore jewellery, but am especially drawn to work which is bold and contemporary. I love Su’s strong geometric shapes, her confident yet subtle use of colour and the dashes of drawing. Is it too early to start thinking of this year’s Christmas list!?

TAKAHASHI MCGIL

You had me at Japan. Of all my travels my visit to Japan has to be one of the most inspiring. Takahashi McGil works in wood bring back such happy memories. The deceptively effortless and evocative Japanese aesthetic is well in evidence. Couple this with the glorious combinations of soft smooth wood and their graded decoration and I challenge you not to want to walk away with every single piece, after all necessary payment formalities of course. Just a bowl, just a planter, just a board, just a vase....just everything. Thank You very much! 

HELAINA SHARPLEY

What a joy Helaina Sharpley’s wirework is. Is it sculpture? Is it drawing? To me it epitomises what a maker’s work should be - refreshingly personal and instantly recognisable as theirs. It’s imaginative, creative and witty. The JUST A CARD campaign, to encourage people to support & buy from artists and makers, only uses cards as an example of all purchases which add up. In this case it’s ‘just some wirework’ as Helaina said during Just a Card week. On that note I’d encourage you all to pop down to this fabulous show and bag yourself some beautiful wirework - the only problem will be can you narrow it down to just one?! 

HAZEL AND HOPE

Jemma Corbin writes that her textiles are ‘handcrafted natural textiles for slow intentional living’. This is a perfect description of her delicate, beautiful designs - slow, considered, thoughtful and restful. Her colours are glorious - I love the simple pairings and the references to the natural world. One of the many pleasures visitors to this show will get will be to experience Jemma’s soft and sensuous in reality. Often, however beautiful photography is, the ultimate joy is in the touch. 

The JUST A CARD campaign encourages people to support and value artists, designers, small businesses and independent shops. The simple yet powerful message is that all purchases however small, even 'just a card', are valued and crucial to their prosperity and survival.

The campaign came about when Artist/Designer Sarah Hamilton read the quote "If everyone who'd complimented our beautiful gallery had bought 'just a card' we'd still be open," by store keepers who'd recently closed their gallery. This prompted a call to action and JUST A CARD is now run, with very limited resources, by Sarah and a small team of passionate volunteers. The campaign has a huge groundswell of support, not just from the creative community, but from the general public too. Do join in - it’s fun, friendly and free! 

To find out more go to www.justacard.org

Please follow and support the campaign on Twitter & Instagram:

Twitter: @justacard1

Instagram: @justacard 

Don't forget to book your workshops now, CLICK HERE TO BOOK

To Volunteer at Made by Hand please CLICK HERE

Made by Hand, Town Hall, Cheltenham

March 8-10th

Beat the Queues and Book your tickest now!